Comparison of granisetron and ramosetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy.

Author(s): Fujii Y, Tanaka H

Affiliation(s): Department of Anesthesiology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Toride City, Ibaraki, Japan. yfujii@igaku.md.tsukuba.ac.jp

Publication date & source: 2002-05, Clin Ther., 24(5):766-72.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common after thyroidectomy. Granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, is more effective than the traditional antiemetics droperidol and metoclopramide for the prevention of PONV after thyroidectomy. Ramosetron, another new selective antagonist of 5-HT3 receptor, has been shown to have more potent and longer-acting properties than granisetron against cisplatin-induced emesis in ferrets. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and tolerability of granisetron and ramosetron for the prevention of PONV after thyroidectomy. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, patients received granisetron 3 mg or ramosetron 0.3 mg intravenously at the end of surgery. A standard general anesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were used. Emetic episodes and safety were assessed during the first 24 hours and the second 24 hours after anesthesia. RESULTS: Eighty patients (15 men, 65 women) aged 33 to 58 years were included in the study. Each study group consisted of 40 patients. There were no differences between groups with regard to patient demographics. The percentage of patients who were emesis free (no nausea, no retching, no vomiting) 0 to 24 hours after anesthesia was 83% (33 of 40) with granisetron and 88% (35 of 40) with ramosetron; the corresponding rates 24 to 48 hours after anesthesia were 63% (25 of 40) and 90% (36 of 40), respectively (P = 0.004). The safety profile of the two 5-HT3 receptor antagonists was comparable, as no clinically serious adverse effects caused by the study drug were observed in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with ramosetron was comparable to therapy with granisetron for the prevention of PONV 0 to 24 hours after anesthesia in patients who underwent thyroidectomy; 24 to 48 hours after anesthesia, ramosetron was more ef- fective than granisetron for prophylaxis against PONV in this population.